Shloka 51
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
समाप्तविद्य॑ तु गुरो: सुतं नृपः समाप्तकर्माणमुपेत्य ते सुतः । सुहृदवृतो त्यर्थमपूजयन्मुदा जिते बलौ विष्णुमिवामरेश्वर:,जिसने पूरी विद्या समाप्त कर ली है तथा समस्त कर्तव्यकर्म पूर्ण कर लिये हैं, उस गुरुपुत्र अश्वत्थामाके पास सुहृदोंसहित आकर आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनने प्रसन्नतापूर्वक उसकी बड़ी पूजा की। ठीक उसी तरह जैसे बलिके पराजित होनेपर देवराज इन्द्रने विष्णुका पूजन किया था
samāptavidyāṁ tu guroḥ sutaṁ nṛpaḥ samāptakarmāṇam upetya te sutaḥ | suhṛdāvṛto ’rtham apūjayan mudā jite balau viṣṇum ivāmareśvaraḥ ||
三阇耶说道：当师长之子学业圆满，诸般应尽之责亦已尽毕，你的儿子难敌与亲友相随前往拜见，欣然以厚礼与恭敬隆重礼遇于他。这情形正如诸天之主因陀罗在镇伏婆梨之后礼敬毗湿奴——以谋略之虔敬求取力量与胜势。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how honoring a powerful ally—especially one who has fulfilled his training and duties—can be both respectful and strategic. It also suggests an ethical tension: acts resembling devotion (pūjā) may be motivated by political advantage (artha), reminding readers to examine intention behind reverence.
After Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son) has completed his learning and obligations, Duryodhana approaches him with companions and honors him with gifts and respect, seeking to secure his support. The comparison to Indra worshipping Viṣṇu after Bali’s defeat underscores the political-religious symbolism of seeking strength through reverence.